My Best of 2018

Hi and welcome to my stop on the Best of 2018 blog linky party!  I had such fun going through my posts from the year to figure out which 5 posts I would be highlighting today.  It was a great way for me to review the year and revisit some finishes from earlier in the year that I had forgotten about.

I picked my top 5 posts by the posts with the most views (minus any giveaway posts).  Click on any of the titles to be taken to the actual blog post for more details and pictures.


1.  Magnolia Mystery Quilt

The Magnolia Mystery quilt ran through the beginning of 2018 with a three day long quilt reveal (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3) in March.  The instructions are still available on the blog and you can start anytime!

2.  Pocket Full of Change

Pocket Full of Change was my most popular tutorial on the blog this year. This quilt design is perfect for using up larger scraps and left over bits of layer cakes to create a quick and easy baby quilt.

3.  Modern Plus Sign Quilts Book & Book Hop

My first book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts, published in February and we held a super fun book hop complete with over 60 versions of the books quilts shown.

4.  Modern Plus Sampler

Along with the Modern Plus Sign Book, I started a Modern Plus Sampler in July (wrapping up in April) that uses most of the blocks from the book in a new layout.  The quilt along is free to join (but the book is needed for the block patterns). 

Photograph by Amy Garro of Quilt Photography Co.

5.  Flutter

Flutter was my most popular quilt finish of the year.  Flutter published in the Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine (and is now available as a separate Meadow Mist Designs pattern with additional size instructions).  I also posted a tutorial on how I quilted the drunkard's path blocks.   

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  I hope you will consider linking up your favorite posts from 2018 or stopping by to see other blogger's best of 2018 posts!  You can visit the Best of post right here.

Best of 2018 Linky Party

Welcome to the Best of 2018 Linky Party! 

 This is the fourth annual "Best of" blog party to share your and read others top posts of 2018.

To take part in the link party, simply write a new blog post highlighting your "best" 5 posts from 2018 and linkup.  There is no set way or rules to pick your best, you can pick and highlight your posts anyway you would like.  Some examples include:

• Posts with the most views
• Posts with the most comments
• Posts that provoked the best discussions
• Posts showing your favorite 2018 finishes
• Posts of your best tutorials
• Posts that are simply your favorites

I invite you to grab a cup of tea, coffee, apple cider, or your favorite blog reading beverage, relax, and have some fun reading the best blog posts of 2018 :)

An InLinkz Link-up

The link party now through Wednesday, January 2nd.

New Printed Patterns

I also happy to announce the addition of 13 newly printed patterns to my Etsy shop and wanted to add a special coupon code to celebrate.

Using the coupon codes below, you can get free shipping and additional discounts off printed patterns in my Etsy shop for the next 3 days (through Monday December the 17th).

1PRINTEDmmd - free shipping on the purchase of one printed pattern.

2PRINTEDmmd - free shipping and $2 off the purchase of two printed patterns.  

3PRINTEDmmd - free shipping and $4 off the purchase of three printed patterns. 

When coupons are used they will show up as a discount off the total purchase price of the patterns ($2.25 for the shipping cost combined with the addition discounts: 1PRINTEDmmd = $2.25, 2PRINTEDmmd = $4.25, 3PRINTEDmmd = $6.25)  

Yes, you can use the coupon codes with the special $8 introductory pricing for Isosceles Addition for an even better value for just a few more hours!

You can find all of the available printed patterns right here :)

Meadow Mist Designs Printed Patterns

Are you a quilt shop owner?  I offer all 29 patterns wholesale directly to quilt shops and most through the major distributors (Brewer, United Notions, Checkers).  You can contact me at MeadowMistDesigns at gmail dot com for more information.

Modern Plus Sampler Quilt ++ My Applique Areas

December's instructions for the Modern Plus Sampler were the Applique areas, based on the Petal Plus and Cute as a Button patterns in the Modern Plus Sign Quilts book. 

Applique is not my favorite quilting technique, but it was only two blocks and I think that they turned out pretty well.

There have been some wonderful blocks posted on the Facebook Group and on Instagram (#ModernPlusSamplerQuilt).  If you have a chance, please check them out :)

You can find the Applique Area instructions for December here and find out all about the quilt along here.

Image by Amy Garro of Quilt Photography Co.

The next set of instructions will be posted on Thursday, January 3rd.

QuiltCon 2019 ++ Quilt Submissions

Did you submit any quilts for QuiltCon 2019?  I submitted four this year and I am happy to say that I will have three quilts hanging in the show.  Here are my submissions and results:

1.  Mikado - accepted

I entered Mikado into the APQ two-color challenge category.  You could only use two colors in the quilt top, binding, and quilting thread.  It was difficult not to put a pop of color into the quilt top, but I am hoping the black and white striped fabric gives the same affect.  More pictures and information are in the Mikado post.

2.  Wooly Bear - rejected

I made Wooly Bear for the Michael Miller challenge category.  For this category you had to use at least two of the three selected hashtag prints along with a peach colored Cotton Couture solid.  You could add in additional Cotton Couture solids and hashtag prints.  More pictures and information are in the Wooly Bear post.

3.  Flew Away - accepted

I made Flew Away for my local Modern Quilt Guild's (Greenville MQG) challenge where we had to use a traditional block that's name started with the first initial of our first, middle, or last name.  This is my variation on the Beggar's Block.  I entered it into the small quilt category.  More pictures and information are in the Flew Away post.

4.  Ruminate - rejected

I was really on the fence with submitted Ruminate, I did not feel that it fit into the look and feel of the curated QuiltCon quilts, but I took a chance anyway and entered it into the small quilt category.  I started this quilt in a Densye Schimdt QuiltCon class in 2017 finally finished it this year.  I added a ton of quilting with different thread weights to give the quilt an interesting look.  More pictures and information are in the Ruminate post.

5.  Periodicity - MQG Pattern of the Month Exhibit

Periodicity will be hanging in the QuiltCon Pattern of the Month Exhibit.  It was the pattern for June and will be hung with all of the other monthly patterns available for free to all MQG members.  It also had the honor of hanging in the MQG Showcase during Quilt Market this fall.  More pictures and information are in the Periodicity post.

6.  (My son's quilt) Dorito-ish - accepted

My son was so excited to find out that his quilt, Dorito-ish, will be hanging in the Youth category at QuiltCon.  More pictures and information are in the Dorito-ish post.

I hope that you had good news on your submissions, I look forward to seeing all of the wonderful quilts in February!

2018 Goal Review and 2019 Goals

I can't believe that 2018 is almost gone! It seems like it was just the summer and yet we are just a few days away from Christmas.

My wonderful bloggy friend Yvonne, who blogs are Quilting Jetgirl, hosts an annual planning party to layout goals for the upcoming year. I thought that I would use this post to first go back to my 2018 goals to see if I had actually accomplished them and then post my 2019 goals.  There are tons of great prizes for linking up (I am a sponsor).

2018 Goal Check-In

My main goal and word for 2018 was to be BALANCE.  I set less goals for myself this past year to help bring more balance and a smaller to-do list.

On my list were:

• Launch of the Modern Plus Sign Quilt book (including a book hop, Quilt Market, guild lectures/workshops) ✅
• Host the Modern Plus Sign Sampler quilt alongcombining almost all of the plus signs from the book into a lap sized sampler. The QAL kicked off in July. ✅
• Host a twice yearly Tips and Tutorials Festival with Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl. ✅
• Make at least 4 charity quilts ✅ (I made and donated five)
• Host the Best of 2018 Linky Party ✅ (starts right after Christmas)

Due to the book launch (and associated book blog hop, magazine submissions, and sampler) along with saying "yes" to too many commitments made for a very stressful first half of 2018.  It never seemed that I could get ahead of my to-do list, I was always doing things right before they were due.  Here were my thoughts on the first half of 2018.

I am happy to say that the second half of this year has been much less stressful and more balanced.  My last quilt that I was committed to making was finished in July.  Since then, I have actually had time to make quilts just for the fun of it and get back to being organized and working ahead on my to-dos.

2019 Goals

I have really enjoyed having a more relaxed and less "have to" sewing the second half of 2018 and I am planning on continuing this into 2019.  I am being very selective to what I commit to.

My main goal and word for 2019 is going to be SHARE.

I am planning to share my joy and knowledge of quilting with others in the upcoming year.  For this goal I am focusing on teaching (I will be teaching at QuiltCon 2019 and my teaching schedule for the entire year is almost completely booked), making more charity quilts to share joy with others, and hosting another mystery quilt starting this summer.    

Here are some of the more concrete items:

• Design and host the next mystery quilt starting this summer
• Host a twice yearly Tips and Tutorials Festival with Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl.
• Make at least 6 charity quilts 
• Host the Best of 2019 Linky Party
• Quilt pattern for the 2020 Quilters Planner
• Become a better quilt teacher.

How are your 2019 plans shaping up?  You can read all of the 2019 planning posts at Yvonne's #2019PlanningParty.

Isosceles Addition ++ Pattern Launch

You may remember Isosceles Addition from late spring when I shared that it was included in Issue 60 of Love Patchwork & Quilting.  I am now releasing the design as a stand alone pattern and have expanded it to include instructions for both baby and lap sizes.

You can find the pattern in my shop (digital and print versions) and on Etsy.

For my version of Isosceles Addition, I used Robert Kaufman for the Kona Cotton Solids in honeysuckle, chartreuse, and white, Aurifil for the piecing and quilting thread, and the Warm Company for the Warm & White batting.  I really like how the bright pink and green pop against the white.

Special Introductory Isosceles Addition Pricing

You can find the pattern in my shop (digital and print versions) and on Etsy.

Save more in my shop... Buy 2 or more patterns for a discount! Buy 2 patterns and use the coupon code TWOPATTERNS for $2 off. Buy 3 patterns and use the coupon code THREEPATTERNS for $4 off.


Here were two other colorways I was considering when I was playing with the design...

Isosceles Addition Pattern: 
Meadow Mist Designs Pattern Shop (digital and print versions) and Etsy.

Many thanks to Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl and Paige @Quilted Blooms for their help with tech editing this pattern!

Here is a beautifully styled shot from Love, Patchwork & Quilting.

Photo by Love Patchwork & Quilting

Blogger Bundle Giveaway by Needle and Foot

You may remember that I curated a bundle of 5 fabrics for Bernie's shop Needle and Thread back in April, here was the bundle and The Quilt in the Hat quilt I made with it:

Well, Bernie has saved one bundle from each of the 11 designers throughout the year and is now offering the chance to win all of them over on her blog!  She would love for you to vote on your favorite bundle through the year.

GIVEAWAY

11 designers x 5 fat quarters each = 55 fat quarters!!  

Almost 14 yards of fabric!!

The giveaway is open now over on the Needle and Foot blog and will run through Saturday.  The giveaway is open only to US shipping addresses due to the cost of shipping this much fabric.

Here are all 11 of the bundles:

Hop over to the Needle and Foot blog for a chance to win :)

Needle and Foot Blog

Best of 2018 Linky Party Coming Soon

It is no secret that I love blog link parties.  One of the main reasons I started my blog was so that I could take part in the sharing of knowledge and inspiration through the parties and so I am very excited to announce that I am hosting my fourth annual blog linky party, the Best of 2018 Linky Party!

To take part in the link party, simply write a new blog post highlighting your "best" 5 posts from 2018 and linkup.  There is no set way or rules to pick your best, you can pick and highlight your posts anyway you would like.  Some examples include:

• Posts with the most views
• Posts with the most comments
• Posts that provoked the best discussions
• Posts showing your favorite 2018 finishes
• Posts of your best tutorials
• Posts that are simply your favorites

This post is not only a great way to find new readers, it is also wonderful to be able to highlight some of your best posts for those readers who have joined your blog throughout the year.

The link party will open the day after Christmas, Wednesday December 26th and will be open for one week ending on Wednesday, January 2nd.

I hope that you will consider writing a post to highlight your best of 2018 and link up! Here is a button for your blog if you would like:

<div class="meadow-mist-designs-button" style="width: 200px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://meadowmistdesigns.blogspot.com/p/best-of-2018-linky-party.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfLBd2u7GC6vWX-OUfI4O3B3B-5MZZew-tjxNFRHDiktkBPBE7Nkci_tJ7PPeEKk0Pq9nKleG0NB-3w_0hp-1N6F_r1l4l2kXotejJ9xGwBtTrF9YdvOpVnNSxaXrMpPum-cWY3nCwds/s320/1.jpg" alt="Meadow Mist Designs" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div>

While you are waiting for this linky party to start up, you can take a look through the Best of 2015, 2016, and 2017.  Thanks!

Wooly Bear ++ Quilt Finish

I am happy to share my last QuiltCon entry today, Wooly Bear.  Wooly Bear is my entry into the Michael Miller Challenge category.

For the challenge, we were given fat eighths of four fabrics, three Hastdot prints and a peach colored Cotton Couture solid.  We had to create a quilt using using at least two of the given Hashdot prints and the peach solid in the quilt top and binding, but in addition to these fabrics we could also add other Hashdot print colors and any other Cotton Couture solids.

When I started to play around with the colors in designs, I could easily make all of the Hastdot prints work well together, but the peach was throwing me for a loop.  It just did not seem to fit in with the other colors (I think that in real life the peach is a little less bright and a little more pink than in the photo above).

None of my ideas were working until I thought to incorporate in an even brighter orangey color.  I added in the Cotton Couture lava and that seemed to calm the peach down in comparison.  I then added in some black just for a little contrast and depth.  I wound up not using the turquoise hashdot print.

I knew that I wanted to create an almost floating image and incorporate some curves into the design.  After playing around in EQ, I had my block design.

I first pieced random sized strips together on the diagonal and trimmed them down to 12 ½" square.  Then I added Drunkard's curves to two of the opposing corners.

Oreo "helping" me quilt

Once the quilt top was complete, I got to move on to the quilting.  For the background, I used a combination of large pebbles, teardrops, and elongated swirls using a matching Aurifil thread in 50 wt.  This was my first time ever using wool batting and I was really happy with how puffy all of the quilted shapes were.  I used Tuscany 100% Wool Batting by Hobbs and it basted and quilted wonderfully.

My initial thought for the pieced sections was to have dense straight lines echoing the seam lines within the blocks.  After doing half a block though, it was not turning out well.  The ruler work was causing some tucks and it was looking messy.  After a bunch of un-sewing, I tried again using a dense, small scale bear claw.

I used a lime green Aurifil thread in 50wt for the pieced sections (that matched the lime green hashdot print), which looked decent on all of the different fabrics in the pieced areas.

For the backing, I used some acid lime green Cotton Couture fabric.  For such wild colors on the front, I had to go equally as bold for the back :)  After quilting, the quilt measured 53" x 57".

Thanks for stopping by, I'll let you know if the quilt is accepted or not.

Modern Plus Sampler ++ Applique Areas

Welcome to the December instructions for the Modern Plus Sampler!  

Let's get into the holiday spirit with some applique :)

This month's instructions are the Applique areas on the sides of the large plus sign.  Remember, if you would rather not do any applique for the quilt top, we have no applique options here.

Modern Plus Sampler

About the sampler - the Modern Plus Sampler will run from July 2018 until April 2019 with a set of directions revealed the first Thursday of every month. The quilt is a large lap sized quilt finishing at about 63" x 78".

The instructions are published within this post (right after these few announcements) and are available in an easy to print pdf format:

Modern Plus Sampler - Applique Areas

 Additionally, the directions and all of the other information related to the sampler quilt along can always be found on the Modern Plus Sampler Page.

Facebook Group 

I encourage you to join the Meadow Mist Designs Facebook Group (if you have not already).  We now have over 3,200 members in the group and I am so excited to see your progress!

If you want some feedback on possible fabric choices or have any questions during the quilt along, the Facebook is an excellent resource.  You can find the Facebook Group right here.  Please share your progress pics on social media with the hashtag #ModernPlusSamplerQuilt and tag me at @MeadowMistDesigns.

And now without further ado....December's instructions...

Applique Areas

Cutting Instructions

FABRIC D

Cut 1 strip 14" x WOF.
       1. Sub-cut into 2 squares 14" x 14".

Tip: You can oversize the fabric D squares and trim to size after the appliqued blocks are complete.

   FABRIC F

Cut 1 strip 5 ½" × WOF. Sub-cut as indicated in book patterns.

PETAL BLOCK
Use the Petal Plus pattern instructions on pages 84-89, the Petal Plus applique shape on page 110, and the applique instructions on pages 9-11.

1. Iron 1 fabric D square 14" x 14" in half twice on the diagonal (shown as dotted lines).

2. Prepare 4 fabric F petal shapes and center onto the fabric D square as shown, using the ironed creases to align the petals.

3. Applique the petal shapes down to make a petal block 14" x 14".

BUTTON BLOCK
Use the Cute as a Button pattern on pages 26-29, the circle plus applique shape on page 104, and the applique instructions on pages 9-11.

1. Iron 1 fabric D square 14" x 14" in half horizontally and vertically (shown as dotted lines).

2. Prepare 4 fabric F button shapes and center onto the fabric D square as shown, using the ironed creases to align the buttons.

3. Applique the buttons down to make a button block 14" x 14".

Many thanks to the generous sponsors of the Modern Plus Sampler!

Honey, Bunny, and Doll | Sew Fresh Quilts | Make Modern | Aurifil

Cooking Up Quilts | Quilting Jetgirl | Quilter's Planner

Needle & Foot | Fat Quarter Shop | BackSide Fabrics | Whims and Fancies

Meadow Mist Designs | Tish's Adventures in Wonderland | Busy Hands Quilts | C&T Publishing

The next set of instructions will be published on the first Thursday of January (the 3rd).